"Why you shelled out for a ticket"

Broadway veteran LaVergne as Judy walks a fine line, performing the heightened caricature written on the page while grounding the character in reality…. Judy tells off her ex-husband and then lifts the roof with “Get Out and Stay Out.” It might be the most impressive number of the show, and another reminder why you shelled out for a ticket. 

"LaVergne's delivery brought the house down"

Judy bursts out of her chrysalis and morphs into the strongest of them all. In the 11 o’clock number, Get Out and Stay Out, LaVergne’s delivery is so powerful and moving, building to a chill inducing final chorus that brought the house down.

"Yet another magnetic star turn"

As Polly Baker, the young, tomboyish, fiercely-minded Nevada woman whom Bobby falls head-over-heels with in three minutes of their first meeting , Amanda Lea LaVergne enchants, beguiles, delights and entertains, offering yet another magnetic star turn just as she did as Reno Sweeney in last year's rousing "Anything Goes" at Sharon Playhouse. Like Boccitto, she is well cast and polished to perfection, playing her part with defining spunk, sass, enchantment and undeniable spirit. But Polly is her own creation. It's a role she plays intuitively and believably (she is very mindful of the period and its nostalgic link to the past) on every level - actress, singer and dancer - and one she invests with the style and spirit of a Broadway leading lady who enjoys being on stage in front of an audience doing what she loves best.

"Best in the business"

Amanda Lea LaVergne is about the best in the business at pre-Rodgers and Hammerstein musical comedy. Not only can she dance (can she ever), but her vocal interpretations of love ballads—“Embraceable You” and “But Not for Me”—combine sensitivity and power in rare combination. (Where does she get that big voice out of that 110-pound frame?) She’s perfect with Boccitto and he’s perfect with her, especially in the fall-in-love duet “Shall We Dance.”

"A star for the 21st century"

For this woman is both, wrapped into one dynamic performer. She is Amanda Lea LaVergne and she is worth the entire price of the ticket, the length of the drive and the cost of at least three intermission cocktails.

She is a standout…From this petite form comes a voice that can rock the world, rivaling even the original big belter, Ethel Merman, who introduced what is the first act finale of this show: “I Got Rhythm.”

She leads us through her character’s emotions in the song “But Not For Me,” which Ginger Rogers sang and set the world on fire. She handles the verbal and physical comedy beautifully and subtly. Here, for once, is the entire package without reservation. New York, take note: This is a star for the 21st century.

“LaVergne is both stunner and showstopper”

As Reno Sweeney, the brassy, flirty nightclub singer who is ready and willing for romance, particularly when the lights are low and a handsome man is standing right beside her, Amanda Lea LaVergne is both stunner and showstopper. It's a part that she plays with sass, brass, spunk, spirit and wickedly orchestrated heat and sensuality. It is also one she invests with the power and stamina of a Broadway leading lady who not only enjoys being center stage under the spotlight, but one whose undeniable spirit, electricity and love of performance could probably blow the roof off of Sharon Playhouse on any given night.
 

"Song-and-dance force"

At the Sharon Playhouse, the song-and-dance force Amanda Lea LaVergne creates her own Reno, with impressive vocal range and astonishing dance athleticism, that recalls the pluck of a feisty Debbie Reynolds and the savvy spunk of Ginger Rogers.

LaVergne belting out “Blow Gabriel Blow” backed-up with an exuberant tap-dancing ensemble pounding the wooden boards in the old Sharon barn is worth the ticket price alone.

“If you want to see a star...see this girl perform.”

   It's been played by many actresses since, but never as convincingly as it is here by Amanda Lea LaVergne. If you want to see a star, get down to Sharon and see this girl perform. 

   She does the Merman bit of singing her choruses and tripping the light fantastic offstage to let the chorus dance their feet off and hearts out, then returns to sing the final chorus, do a buck and wing, and bring down the house. Unlike the Merm she also dances wonderfully well and makes the romance of the show comic and the comedy romantic. Merman depended on her overwhelming personality and her incredible vocal strengths to hold the stage but LaVergne is a more complete package. She can act, do comedy, sing and dance and take on the romantic clichés as though they were newly wrought.

"Simply lit up the stage"

In the great role of Reno Sweeney was Equity member Amanda Lea LaVergne (ANNIE, GREASE on Broadway.) This lovely triple threat simply lit up the stage with great comic timing, a fabulous singing voice and excellent dancing. I looked forward to every minute of her performance and appreciated those frequent costume changes.

"LaVergne is worth the price of admission"

"The standout, though, is Amanda Lea LaVergne, whose quirky, yet confident performance stands out from the rest. Her command of the material, as well as her superb dancing, made her the one to watch throughout the show...Amanda LaVergne is worth the price of admission"

"Has the punch and pipes"

"I especially liked Amanda Lea LaVergne, who plays the starring role created by Kelli O'Hara: It's fun to see a good-egg type get to be the star, and Ms. LaVergne has the punch and pipes to bring it off."

"Fred and Ginger who?"

"Laverne hits the heights on the charm meter and is a talented triple threat. She starts out as a rough-around-the-edges tomboy type, but aspires to be a femme fatale (with comic results) when she falls for wealthy playboy Jimmy. LaVergne and Sorge starred opposite each other in Ogunquit Playhouse's Singin' in the Rain (2009) and it shows in their chemistry in both their book scenes and when they dance together. (Fred and Ginger who?)"

"Comedy is expertly smart and pointed"

"As Billy Bendix, Amanda Lea LaVergne is a standout talent. She is beautifully relatable as Billy and she makes every moment onstage work for her. She navigates each scene with poise and grace. Her comedy is expertly smart and pointed. She takes a two dimensional character and makes it live onstage." - Broadway World

"Sweetness of Julie with the fire power of Ethel"

"Billie's rendition of 'Someone to Watch Over Me' was hilarious, for Ms. LaVergne sang the song while toting a shotgun, making me think of Annie Oakley. In face, Amanda's voice is a blend of the sweetness of Julie Andrews with the vocal fire power of Ethel Merman. Her singing and acting are extraordinarily entertaining, and are among the strongest parts of this production." 

"Vocal and comedic dynamite"

"Broadway stars Joey Sorge and Amanda Lea LaVergne slip into the lovebirds' roles for Ogunquit's production. Their chemistry is as sweet and sassy as a 1920s Bee's Knees cocktail... LaVergne is a vocal and comedic dynamite, particularly on 'Someone To Watch Over Me,' delivered with a loaded rifle in hand."

"Powerful voice that is perfect for this role"

"On the night of his bachelor party Jimmy drunkenly stumbles upon Billie Bendix, played by Amanda Lea LaVergne. LaVergne has a powerful voice that is perfect for this role. Billie is no delicate flower, and LaVergne is charming as the uncoordinated, boyish and tough Billie... While singing 'Treat Me Rough,' Billie works - to great comic effect - to seduce Jimmy with her decidedly un-sexy moves."

"Deeper-than-advertised"

“The main players are strong, particularly Amanda Lea LaVergne as a deeper-than-advertised June.”

"Surprisingly strong and sympathetic"

"Amanda Lea LaVergne made a surprisingly strong and sympathetic sister June… LaVergne was so intriguing, in fact, that we missed her once she’d left the story.”

"Terrific powerful voice"

“LaVergne who has a terrific voice and is a wonderful dancer plays the role of June with blonde banana curls. [She] shows off her powerful voice with [Louise] in their duet, 'If Momma Was Married.'"

"Downright terrific"

“Nicholas Cobey (Chad) is wonderful as the leading man and his female counterpart, Amanda Lea LaVergne (Natalie), is every bit his equal. Together they are downright terrific.”
- Stage Door Magazine